Bobeet mcdougall



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MCDOUGALL, or AUBURN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALE TO r WILLIAM SHEFFER, or SAME PLACE.

WHIP-SOCKET LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,184, dated September 29, 1885.

Application filed January 21, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT McDoUeALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use- Improvements in VVhip-Socket Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference markedv thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention is an improvement in devices intended especially for locking whips in sockets.

It consists in the combination of the lock having its shackle formed at one end with ratchet-teeth and its bolt pivoted between its ends and having its lower end adapted to be operated on by the key and its upper end or arm curved rearwardly back from the pivot and thence forward, with its extremity adapted to engage the ratchets of the shackle, all of which will be fully described.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are plan views, partly in section, representing my improvements, respectively looked as for whips of larger and smaller diameters. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the lock with the casing broken away; and Fig. 4 is a side View of the improvement, all of which will be hereinafter explained.

The socket A is formed of semi-cylindrical sections A A ,pivoted together at a between their ends, so that their upper ends may be moved from and toward each other. These ends are flared outwardly for the double purpose of facilitating the insertion of the whip stock and preventing the look from slipping thereoff.

The section A may be provided with bolts A or similar eXpedients, by which it may be attached to the dashboard, alongside the driver s seat, or in any other desired position on a vehicle.

It is understood that whips universally are formed with an annular shoulder or rib at their handle ends. It will be seen that when the whips are inserted in the socket A and the upper ends of the section A A be clamped to and against the whip, the latter will be pre vented from being moved out of the socket until the sections A A are released. To this end, after the whip has been placed in the socket, the lock will be applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 4, and adjusted into a locked position, as shown in Figs. 1- or 2,, according to the size of the whip-stock.

The lock is constructed with the case B, within which I arrange the bolt 0 and springs DE. The case has a proper key-opening, B. The shackle F is pivoted at one end, F, to the case B, and has its other end movable into said casein position to be engaged by the bolt 0. This movable end of the shackle is provided with ratchet-teeth FZformed in series, extending from its point or extremity.

It will be seen that by this series of ratchetteeth I am enabled to lock the shackle F in the extended position shown in Fig. 1, in order to secure a whip of large diameter; or I may adjust the shackle farther into the lock to secure a smaller whip, as may be understood from Fig. 2.

In order to permit the adjustment of the shackle into the lock, as shown in Fig. 2, and preserve the desired pivotal arrangement of the bolt 0 necessary to the operation by the key G, it becomes necessary to form the upper arm, 0, of the bolt 0 in the form shown. To

this end I curve the arm 0 backwardly from the pivot C of the bolt and thence forward with its extremity into position to engage the teeth F This forms the hollow or recess 0 in the bolt, into which the point of the shackle is moved in the operation of the device.

It will be understood that the formation in the shackle of a series of perforations fitted to be engaged by the point of the bolt would be an equivalent of the ratchet-teeth F By my improvement it will be seen the sections of the socket are adjusted into engagement with the whip-handle, and I avoid damage to such handle incident to the contact therewith of locking-loops, staples, &c., and I at the same time secure the whip firmly in the socket.

The springs E and D are suitably arranged low or recess, 0 and a shackle, F, pivoted at F, and having its point movable into the recess C and provided with a series of teeth, F, whereby the said arm of the bolt is adapted to engage with the shackle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MODOUGALL.

\Vitnesses:

P. J. LOOKWOOD, J OSEPI-I vV. MoKAY.

The combination, in a lock, of the bolt 0, having one of its arms G provided with ahol- 

